Georgia Tech’s home date with No. 18 Tennessee comes with more than just a tough football test. It’s also another major recruiting weekend on the Flats, with a group of top targets and commitments expected to be in attendance.
Among the recruits set to return are commits Brodie Campbell, Kal-El Johnson, Success Nwabude, Moonie Gipspon, and Braden Gordon. For the Yellow Jackets, that means another chance to sell the vision in person - not just that they’re building toward being a great program, but that they already are one.
That message matters because Saturday brings a real challenge on the field. Georgia Tech’s defensive line, the area the staff invested in most heavily, was nearly invisible against Colorado.
The Jackets had trouble generating tackles for loss and sacks, and that’s a problem going into a matchup with a Tennessee rushing attack powered by DeSean Biship, Duane Morris, Justin Baker, and Javin Gordon. If Georgia Tech is already shaky against the run, that’s a hard formula to trust for four quarters.
The pressure on the Jackets is obvious, and the result could leave them 0-2 on the season.
Still, the recruiting momentum around the program hasn’t gone away. Even after the loss to Colorado, highly touted 2028 defensive lineman Tory Clark still came away impressed with what he saw.
“Game day was great. Because of the weather delay, I was not on the field as much!
I did connect with DL Coach Simpson before the game and got an opportunity to hear some of the plans to approach the game. The “white-out” was outstanding.
From the beginning, you could feel the energy & excitement of college game day of the game! The stadium was packed, and there was not an empty seat in The Flats,” said Clark.
Clark also pointed to the direction of the program and the pieces being added around it.
“GT overall, I believe, is being built the right way. It’s a lot of additional resources, staff & people in the football buildings.
There have been additions & changes to the football facilities; the weight room is outstanding. That D-line is big and athletic.
I have talked to Coach Simpson a few times about approach and how they attack the game. Playing in the trenches is physical, and you have to be able to stop the run.
I have contact with the program weekly. I talk with Coach Demas often about everyday life and how I played on Friday night.
It’s good to have those lines of communication and really build a connection,” said Clark.
That kind of feedback is exactly why Georgia Tech keeps drawing attention on the trail. The Jackets have a consensus Top 30 class, and the fact that they’re landing this level of interest says plenty about how the program is being viewed. Atlanta is starting to look like a destination.
Now comes the next step: turning the buzz into proof. With a packed house and plenty of eyes on the program, Georgia Tech has a chance to show recruits from the 2027 cycle and beyond that it can stand up to upper-echelon SEC competition.
A win over Tennessee would send a strong message. The Jackets just have to deliver it in front of the people who matter most.
In Other News...
Deion Sanders Signals Colorado Special Teams Changes After Week 1 Problems
Colorados Week 1 win over Georgia Tech came with a heavy special-teams imprint, from Daniel Gerlach drilling the go-ahead extra point to Boo Carter getting a blocked field goal that helped swing the game. Even in a victory, though, the Buffaloes left plenty to sort through in the kicking game, and Deion Sanders spent part of his weekly press availability revisiting why those units looked uneven despite the timely plays.
Sanders framed the issues as largely personnel-driven and said the staff has already adjusted in response, with an eye on both the kicking roles and the coverage groups. He also pointed to the need for cleaner practice work and better protection on kicks, a reminder that for Colorado, the margins on special teams are still very much a work in progress even after a game that had enough big moments to hide some of the cracks. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Defense Faces Early Test After Ugly Opener
Georgia Techs defense did not get the start it wanted in the opener, and the problems were easy to spot. The Jackets were pushed around on the ground, gave up nearly 200 rushing yards, and came away without the kind of game-changing plays that can cover up a shaky night. Against a Tennessee offense that can punish hesitation and mistakes, that puts even more attention on the players expected to steady things, including Daiquan White and Kelvin Hill.
Their individual performances only added to the concern, with both drawing poor grades after the opener, and White especially struggling in coverage and tackling. The bigger question now is whether the front can play with enough consistency to keep Tennessee from controlling the line of scrimmage and forcing Georgia Tech into a long night of chasing the play. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Techs Upset Hopes Ride On One Offensive Problem
Georgia Tech heads into Saturdays matchup with No. 18 Tennessee carrying more than just the usual underdog label. The Yellow Jackets have enough encouraging pieces on offense to make this interesting, with Justice Haynes, Malachi Hosley and quarterback Alberto Mendoza all showing flashes that suggest the attack can move the ball well enough to stay in range.
The problem is turning those drives into the kind of scoring plays that can keep pace with a ranked opponent. Mendoza has shown he can improvise and work the intermediate part of the field, and the next step may be finding more reliable answers near the goal line, whether that comes from cleaner execution or a bigger role for tight ends like Kevin Roche Jr. if Georgia Tech wants to create a few mismatches and break through where it has fallen short. [Read more 🡒]